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Save water at home

Water is precious, and we can all help save it. Small changes at home, like using water-saving devices and appliances, can lower your bills and help protect our environment.

Everyday habits that make a difference

  • Turn off the tap when you clean your teeth or shave.
  • Flush the toilet only when necessary.
  • Avoid rinsing dishes or other items under a running tap. Put in the plug and use the rinse water to clean out recyclable containers.
  • Wash the car with a bucket and trigger nozzle hose on the grass - and only when you really need to.
  • Use a broom, not a hose, to clear driveways and pathways.
  • Challenge yourself and your household to limit showers to three minutes or less.
  • Fill the washing machine or dishwasher instead of doing half loads.
  • Check the WELS rating or Smart Drop certification when you buy new products.

Outside and in the garden

  • If you have a pool or spa, use a cover to limit evaporation.
  • Wash your car or boat on the lawn. Only wash after 5pm and before 10am.
  • Water the garden using a handheld hose fitted with a trigger nozzle. Only water after 5pm and before 10am.
  • Let the lawn go brown during dry seasons.
  • Plant drought-tolerant native plants that don't need a lot of water. Group plants with similar needs together.
  • Book a free water-wise and bush-friendly garden visit with our environment team to get tips and ideas for your garden.

Around the house

Rebates and incentives

We have a range of rebates and incentives to help conserve water and energy and reduce your carbon footprint.

You can get between $150 and $600 for each household. You get the higher amount if you also connect the tank to your toilet and washing machine.

You can get this rebate if you:

  • buy and install a rainwater tank of 2,000L or more
  • connect the tank to your roof and garden water supply.

To claim your rebate, you must:

  1. Read the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions to make sure you're eligible to apply.
  2. Apply online:
    1. Rainwater tank rebate application.

You can get $150 for each household.

You can get this rebate if you:

To claim your rebate, you must:

  1. Read the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions to make sure you're eligible to apply.
  2. Apply online:
    1. Washing machine rebate application
  3. Attach these documents to your application:
    1. a tax invoice showing the machine make and model, your name and address, and a $0 balance owing
    2. proof of residence at the address (renters only).

A water-efficient rated washing machine uses less than half the amount of water of an inefficient machine. This will save an average household about 20,000 litres of water a year.

More information

You can get $200 for each toilet, for up to two toilets per household.

You can get this rebate if you:

  • replace a single flush toilet with a 4-star or higher WELS-rated dual-flush toilet
  • use a licensed plumber to install the toilet
  • have a property connected to Council's water supply.

To claim your rebate, you must:

  1. Read the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions to make sure you're eligible to apply.
  2. Apply online:
    1. Dual-flush toilet rebate application
  3. Attach these documents to your application:
    1. a tax invoice showing the machine make and model, your name and address, and a $0 balance owing
    2. proof of residence at the address (renters only).

A 4-star water efficient rated toilet uses less than a third of the amount of water of old single flush toilets. This will save an average house about 30,000 litres of water a year on your bill.

Exchange your old showerhead with a high quality 3-star WELS rated water-efficient showerhead.

You are eligible for the program if your property is:

  • in Eurobodalla
  • supplied by Council's water mains system.

Residents can claim up to two showerheads. Businesses or organisations can claim up to eight showerheads.

Upgrading an inefficient showerhead can save a typical two-person household over $400 per year in energy and hot water costs.

How to exchange your showerhead

Residents

  1. Bring your old (two star or less) WELS-rated showerhead and a copy of your latest water bill to one of our exchange locations.

Businesses or organisations

  1. Bring a copy of your latest water bill to one of our exchange locations and pick up the new showerheads.
  2. After you've replaced the showerheads, bring back the old ones within 30 days. If you don't, we will bill you for the new showerheads.

Exchange locations

  • Council's customer service office - corner of Vulcan Street and Campbell Street, Moruya (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm)
  • Batemans Bay Depot office - Princes Highway Batemans Bay (Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 12pm, 1pm to 3pm)
  • Narooma Depot office - Glass House Rocks Road Narooma (Monday and Tuesday, 8.30am to 12pm, 1pm to 3pm).

How to remove and install your showerhead

  • In NSW, you can install a 3-star water saving showerhead in your home without using a licensed plumber.
  • If you install the showerhead yourself, Council is not responsible for any damage caused by the installation. If you're unsure how to install the showerhead, use a licensed plumber.
  • To remove and install a new showerhead yourself:
    1. Make sure you turn off the shower taps.
    2. Use an adjustable spanner to undo the showerhead arm from the wall by turning it anti-clockwise.
    3. With the water still turned off, clean the thread with a brush or steel wool. Apply three to four rotations of the tape Council provided, tightly in a clockwise direction.
    4. Install the new showerhead by turning the showerhead in a clockwise direction.
    5. Use a spanner and a cloth to tighten the showerhead firmly, but do not over-tighten because this can crack tiles. Do not use shower arm to tighten.

Showerhead step 1shower step 2shower step 3

Terms and conditions

  1. Eurobodalla Council is not responsible for the removal or installation of the showerheads, or any damage caused as a result.
  2. The showerheads are only available for installation at properties that have an authorised connection to Council's water supply system. You must present a water bill when you exchange your showerhead.
  3. The showerhead exchange program is limited to:
    1. a maximum of two showerheads per residential property
    2. eight showerheads per non-residential property (contact Council if you have more).
  4. You must surrender your existing standard (2-star WELS-rated or lower) showerhead, and we'll replace it with a new 3-star WELS-rated showerhead. For non-residential properties, surrender your showerheads to us after you've replaced them.
  5. If you choose to take part in the program, we cannot return your original showerhead(s) if you're unhappy with the new showerhead(s).
  6. Please note that water efficient showerheads are not suitable for low pressure, gravity fed and some instantaneous or continuous supply hot water systems.
  7. Eurobodalla Council takes no responsibility for plumbing issues relating to your property as a result of the program.
  8. Stocks of showerheads are limited and we will allocate them on a first come basis.
  9. To help ensure our sustainable future, we will recycle your old showerhead so the recycled material can be reused to produce various other products.

You can get free installation of some water saving devices. These include hose spray guns, pre-rinse spray gun heads, tap flow restrictors and showerheads.

  • The free devices replace existing equipment with higher flow characteristics.
  • The program does not apply to new buildings or renovations.

You are eligible for the program if:

  1. you are a business or organisation in Eurobodalla
  2. your property is supplied by Council's mains water.

To register, please read and complete our Expression of Interest form. You'll also need to read the terms and conditions: